Multi-axis joint for a spar of a limb holder

ABSTRACT

A patient support apparatus includes a surgical table and a limb support unit coupled to the surgical table. The limb support unit includes a support platform coupled to the surgical table in a fixed position, a first limb holder coupled to the support platform in a fixed position relative to the support platform, and a second limb holder coupled to the support platform and spaced apart from the first limb holder. The first limb holder includes a multi-axis joint coupled to the support platform in a fixed position and a spar coupled to the multi-axis joint to move relative to the support platform while supporting a patient&#39;s limb that has been coupled to the spar.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/698,157, filed Sep. 10, 2012, whichis expressly incorporated by reference herein

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure is related to a support apparatus for supportinga patient. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to asupport apparatus including a surgical table and a limb support coupledto the surgical table.

Support apparatuses include a surgical table and a limb support. Thelimb support includes a support platform coupled to one end of thesurgical table, a first limb holder, and a second limb holder. Each limbholder is coupled to the support platform and configured to support apatient's limb during surgery. The patient's limb may be placed intension to aid the surgeon performing the surgery. The limb holder maybe arranged in any number of positions relative to the support platformduring surgery on the patient while the patient's limb is in tension.

A limb holder may move in unintended ways during movement of thepatient's limb during surgery while the patient's limb is maintained intension. Unintended movement of the patient's limb may be minimized bymoving the two-axis limb holder in only one plane of movement at a time.As a result, movement of the limb holder should be performed in only oneplane of movement at a time so that tension is not lost on the patient'slimb.

SUMMARY

The present application discloses one or more of the features recited inthe appended claims and/or the following features which, alone or in anycombination, may comprise patentable subject matter.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a limb holderincludes a joint mount, a spar, and a multi-axis joint. The mount isadapted to couple to a platform in a fixed position. The spar isarranged to extend in an outward direction away from the joint mount andis adapted to couple to a patient's foot and retain the patient's footin tension during a procedure. The multi-axis joint is arranged tointerconnect the spar and the joint mount to cause the spar to moverelative to the joint mount.

In some embodiments, the multi-axis joint may include avertical-position lock and a horizontal-position lock. Thehorizontal-position lock may interconnect the spar and thevertical-position lock. The horizontal-position lock may be movablebetween a blocking position in which movement of the spar and thevertical-position lock is blocked and an unblocking position in whichthe spar and the vertical-position lock are freed to move togetherrelative to the joint mount about a vertical axis. The vertical-positionlock may interconnect the spar and the horizontal-position lock. Thevertical-position lock may be movable between a locked position in whichthe spar is blocked from moving relative to the horizontal-position lockand the joint mount and an unlocked position in which the spar is freedto move relative to the horizontal-position lock and the joint mount.

In some embodiments, the spar and the vertical-position lock may befreed to move about a vertical axis when the horizontal-position lock isin the unblocking position. The spar may be freed to move about ahorizontal axis when the vertical-position lock is in the unlockedposition.

In some embodiments, the multi-axis joint may further include a supportplatform. The horizontal-position lock may lie between and interconnectthe joint mount and the support platform to cause the support platformto move relative to the joint mount.

In some embodiments, the multi-axis joint may further include a jointhousing coupled to the support platform to move therewith. Thevertical-position lock may interconnect portions of the joint housingand the spar to cause the portions of the joint housing and the spar tomove relative to the support platform.

In some embodiments, the horizontal-position lock may include astationary disk, a set of movable pins, and movable disk. The stationarydisk may be coupled to the support platform in a fixed position relativeto the support platform. The set of movable pins may be coupled to thesupport platform and biased to extend away from the support platformtoward the joint mount. The movable disk may be coupled to the jointmount to move relative to the joint mount, the stationary disk, and theset of movable pins when the horizontal-position lock is in theunblocking position.

In some embodiments, the stationary disk may be formed to include a setof stationary-disk holes having a first quantity. The movable disk maybe formed to include a set of movable-disk holes having a secondquantity. The set of movable pins may have a third quantity. At leasttwo pins included in the set of movable pins may extend through twostationary-disk holes and two movable-disk holes when thehorizontal-position lock is in the blocking position.

In some embodiments, the movable disk may be spaced apart from thestationary disk. As a result, the set of movable pins may be disengagedfrom the movable disk so that none of the movable pins extend throughany of the movable-disk holes when the horizontal-position lock is inthe unblocking position. In some embodiments, the first quantity may beequal to the second quantity and the third quantity is less than thefirst quantity. The horizontal-position lock may be movable in about 4.5degree increments.

In some embodiments, each movable pin included in the set of movablepins may be spaced-apart circumferentially an equal distance from eachneighboring movable pin. Each stationary-disk hole may be spaced-apartcircumferentially an equal distance from each neighboringstationary-disk hole. Each movable-disk hole may be spaced-apartcircumferentially an equal amount from each neighboring movable-diskhole.

In some embodiments, the horizontal-position lock may be movable inabout 4.5 degree increments. The vertical-position lock may be movablein about 4 degree increments.

In some embodiments, the joint housing may include a first shellsupport, a second shell support, and a housing shell. The first shellsupport may be coupled to the support platform to move therewith. Thesecond shell may be coupled to the support platform in spaced-apartrelation to move therewith. The housing shell may be coupled to the sparto move therewith and to the first and second shell supports to moverelative to the first and second shell supports.

In some embodiments, the vertical-position lock may include a stationaryplate and a movable plate. The stationary plate may be coupled to thesecond shell support to move therewith. The movable plate may be coupledto the housing shell to move therewith and relative to the stationaryplate.

In some embodiments, the movable plate may engage the stationary platewhen the vertical-position lock is in the locked position. The movableplate may be spaced apart from and disengaging the stationary plate whenthe vertical-position lock is in the unlocked position.

In some embodiments, the stationary plate may include a disk and aplurality of radially-extending teeth appended to the disk. Theplurality of radially-extending teeth may be arranged to extend towardthe movable plate. The plurality of teeth may be spaced-apart equallyfrom one another.

In some embodiments, the movable plate may include a disk and aplurality of radially-extending teeth appended to the disk. Theplurality radially-extending teeth may be arranged to extend toward thestationary plate. The plurality of radially-extending teeth may bespaced-apart equally from one another.

In some embodiments, the vertical-position lock may be movable in about4 degree increments. The horizontal-lock actuator may be coupled to thehorizontal-position lock to cause the horizontal-position lock to movebetween the blocking and unblocking positions.

In some embodiments, the horizontal-lock actuator may include a trigger,a linkage, a lever, and a drive linkage. The trigger may be coupled tothe spar to move relative to the spar in response to application of anactuation force to the trigger. The linkage may be coupled to thetrigger to move therewith. The lever may be coupled to the linkage tomove therewith about a pivot axis. The drive linkage may be coupled to amovable disk included in the horizontal-position lock.

In some embodiments, application of the actuation force may cause thelever to engage and move the drive linkage which causes the movable diskof the horizontal-position lock to move away from and out of engagementwith a set of movable pins included in the horizontal-position lock. Asa result, the horizontal-position lock may assume the unblockingposition.

In some embodiments, the spar and the vertical-position lock may befreed to move about a vertical axis when the horizontal-position lock isin the unblocking position. The spar may be freed to move about ahorizontal axis when the vertical-position lock is in the unlockedposition. The pivot axis may be spaced apart from and generally parallelto the horizontal axis.

In some embodiments, the horizontal-lock actuator may further include ahorizontal-lock bias spring. The horizontal-lock bias spring may bepositioned to lie between the joint mount and the drive linkage. Thehorizontal-lock actuator may be configured to provide a bias force tothe horizontal-position lock to cause the horizontal-position lock toassume the blocking position when the actuation force is removed fromthe trigger. The vertical-lock actuator may be coupled to thevertical-position lock to cause the vertical-position lock to movebetween the locked and the unlocked positions.

In some embodiments, the vertical-lock actuator may include a grip, arotation collar, a cam, and a cam follower. The grip may be coupled tothe spar to extend perpendicularly away from the spar and move relativeto the spar in response to application of a rotation force to the grip.The rotation collar may be coupled to the grip to move therewith about arotation axis. The cam may be coupled to the rotation collar to movetherewith. The cam follower may be coupled to the vertical-position tolock to cause the vertical-position lock to move between the locked andthe unlocked position in response to rotation of the grip about therotation axis.

In some embodiments, the vertical-lock actuator may further include arotation linkage. The rotation linkage may be arranged to interconnectthe rotation collar and the cam to cause movement of the rotation collarto be translated to the cam.

In some embodiments, the horizontal-lock actuator may include a trigger,a linkage, a lever, and a drive linkage. The trigger may be coupled tothe spar to move relative to the spar in response to application of anactuation force to the trigger. The linkage may be coupled to thetrigger to move therewith. The lever may be coupled to the linkage tomove therewith about a pivot axis. The drive linkage may be coupled to amovable disk included in the horizontal-position lock.

In some embodiments, the rotation linkage may be formed to include ahollow passageway therein. A portion of the linkage may be arranged toextend through the hollow passageway to cause movement of the linkage tobe independent of movement of the rotation linkage.

In some embodiments, the multi-axis joint may further include a jointhousing coupled to the support platform to move therewith. Thevertical-position lock may interconnect portions of the joint housingand the spar to cause the portions of the joint housing and the spar tomove relative to the support platform. The joint housing may include afirst shell support, a second shell support, and a housing shell. Thefirst shell support may be coupled to the support platform to movetherewith. The second shell may be coupled to the support platform inspaced-apart relation to move therewith. The housing shell may becoupled to the spar to move therewith and to the first and second shellsupports to move relative to the first and second shell supports. Thevertical-position lock may include a stationary plate and a movableplate. The stationary plate may be coupled to the second shell supportto move therewith. The movable plate may be coupled to the housing shelland the cam follower to move therewith and relative to the stationaryplate. Movement of the grip may cause the cam to move the cam followercausing the cam follower, the housing shell, and the movable plate ofthe vertical-position lock to move back and forth along a horizontalaxis. The spar may be freed to move about the horizontal axis when thevertical-position lock is in the unlocked position.

In some embodiments, the horizontal-lock actuator may further include abias mechanism. The bias mechanism may be positioned to lie between aportion of the cam follower and the first shell support. The biasmechanism may be configured to bias the cam follower and the movableplate of the vertical-position lock away from the stationary plate ofthe vertical-position lock.

In some embodiments, the spar may be movable about a horizontal axisthrough a range of motion. The range of motion may be about 20 degreesdown from a generally horizontal position of the spar and about 55degrees up from the generally horizontal position of the spar.

In some embodiments, the limb holder may be configured to support a legof a patient. The patient may have a weight of about 350 pounds and aninseam of about 42 inches. The limb holder may withstand a torque ofabout 250 foot pounds when the spar is in the generally horizontalposition.

In some embodiments, the vertical-position lock moves from the blockingposition to the unblocking position when the horizontal-position lock isin the locked position. The vertical-position lock may move from theblocking position to the unblocking position when thehorizontal-position lock is in the unlocked position. Thehorizontal-position lock may move from the locked position to theunlocked position when the vertical-position lock is in the blockingposition. The horizontal-position lock may move from the locked positionto the unlocked position when the vertical-position lock is in theunblocking position.

In some embodiments, the multi-axis joint may further include a supportplatform and a joint housing. The horizontal-position lock may liebetween and interconnect the joint mount and the support platform tocause the support platform to move relative to the joint mount. Thejoint housing may be coupled to the support platform to move therewith.The vertical-position lock may interconnect portions of the jointhousing and the spar to cause the portions of the joint housing and thespar to move relative to the support platform.

In some embodiments, the vertical-position lock may include a verticalstationary disk, a vertical movable disk, and a set movable pins. Thestationary disk may be coupled to joint housing in a fixed positionrelative to the joint housing. The vertical movable disk may be coupledto the joint housing to move relative to the joint housing. The set ofmovable pins may be trapped between the vertical stationary disk and thevertical movable disk and biased to extend away from the verticalstationary disk toward the vertical movable disk and engage the verticalmovable disk when the vertical-position lock is in the locked position.

In some embodiments, the vertical stationary disk may be formed toinclude a set of stationary-disk holes having a first quantity. Thevertical movable disk may be formed to include a set of movable-diskholes having a second quantity. The set of movable pins may have a thirdquantity, and at least two pins included in the set of movable pinsextends through two stationary-disk holes and two movable-disk holeswhen the vertical-position lock is in the locked position.

In some embodiments, the vertical movable disk may be spaced apart fromthe vertical stationary disk to cause the set of movable pins to bedisengaged from the vertical movable disk. As a result, none of themovable pins may extend through any of the movable-disk holes when thevertical-position lock is in the unlocked position. Thevertical-position lock may be movable in about 4.5 degree increments.

In some embodiments, each movable pin included in the set of movablepins may be spaced-apart circumferentially an equal distance from eachneighboring movable pin. Each stationary-disk hole may be spaced-apartcircumferentially an equal distance from each neighboringstationary-disk hole. Each movable-disk hole may be spaced-apartcircumferentially an equal distance from each neighboring movable-diskhole.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a limb holderincludes a joint, a spar, and a multi-axis joint. The joint mount isadapted to couple to a support platform in a fixed position. The sparextends in an outward direction away from the joint mount and is adaptedto couple to a patient's limb. The multi-axis joint includes avertical-position lock and a horizontal-position lock. Thehorizontal-position lock interconnects the spar and thevertical-position lock and is movable between a blocking position inwhich movement of the spar and the vertical-position lock is blocked andan unblocking position in which the spar and the vertical-position lockare freed to move together relative to the joint mount about ahorizontal axis. The vertical-position lock interconnects the spar andthe horizontal-position lock and is movable between a locked position inwhich the spar is blocked from moving relative to thehorizontal-position lock and the joint mount and an unlocked position inwhich the spar is freed to move relative to the horizontal-position lockand the joint mount. The patient's limb may be retained in tractionthroughout movement of the spar relative to the joint mount.

Additional features, which alone or in combination with any otherfeature(s), including those listed above, those listed in the claims,and those described in detail below, may comprise patentable subjectmatter. Other features will become apparent to those skilled in the artupon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrativeembodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention aspresently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figuresin which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support apparatus in accordance withthe present disclosure showing that the support apparatus includes asurgical table and one embodiment of a limb-support unit coupled to afoot end of the surgical table;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the limb-support unitof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded assembly view of the limb-support unit of FIG. 1showing that the limb-support unit includes a two-axis leg holder and asupport platform;

FIG. 4 is an exploded assembly view of the two-axis leg holder of FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the two-axis legholder of FIGS. 1-4 showing a horizontal-lock actuator in an engagedposition causing a horizontal-position lock to remain in the blockingposition blocking movement of the two-axis leg holder about a horizontalaxis relative to the support platform;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 showing thehorizontal-position lock in the blocking position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the horizontal-lock actuatorin an engaged position causing the horizontal-position lock to move tothe unblocking position as suggested in FIG. 8;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7 showing thehorizontal-position lock moved to the unblocking position;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a vertical-lock actuator in adisengaged position causing a vertical-position lock to remain in alocked position blocking movement of the two-axis leg holder about avertical axis relative to the support platform;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9 showing thevertical-position lock in the locked position;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the vertical-position lockmoved to the unlocked position allowing movement of the movable legsupport relative to the support platform;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11 showingthe vertical-position lock moved to the unlocked position;

FIG. 13 is an exploded assembly view of a limb-support unit showing thatthe limb-support unit includes another embodiment of a two-axis legholder in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is an exploded assembly view of the two-axis leg holder of FIG.13;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the two-axis legholder of FIGS. 13 and 14 showing a horizontal-lock actuator in adisengaged position causing a horizontal-position lock included in thetwo-axis leg holder to remain in the blocking position blocking movementof the two-axis leg holder about a horizontal axis relative to thesupport platform;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 15 showingthe horizontal-position lock in the blocking position;

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 15 showing the horizontal-lockactuator in an engaged position causing the horizontal-position lock tomove to the unblocking position as suggested in FIG. 18;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along line 18-18 of FIG. 17 showingthe horizontal-position lock moved to the unblocking position;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 15 showing a vertical-lock actuator ina disengaged position causing a vertical-position lock to remain in alocked position;

FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along line 20-20 of FIG. 19 showingthe vertical-position lock in the locked position;

FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 19 showing the vertical-position lockmoved to the unlocked position; and

FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken along line 22-22 of FIG. 21 showingthe vertical-position lock moved to the unlocked position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A support apparatus 10 includes, for example, a surgical table 12 and alimb-support unit 14 as shown in FIGS. 1-3. The limb-support unit 14,for example, is coupled to a foot end 16 of the surgical table 12 asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In an example of use, the limb-support unit 14supports a patient's legs (not shown) and the surgical table 12 supportsa patient's upper body (not shown). The limb-support unit 14 may be usedto place tension on the patient's legs during surgery. This is alsocalled placing the patient's legs in traction. During a hip surgery, thepatient's leg being operated on may need to be repositioned to providethe surgeon with improved access while maintaining the patient's leg intraction. The limb-support unit 14, in accordance with the presentdisclosure, provides the ability to reposition the patient's leg whilemaintaining that leg in traction. However, the limb-support unit 14 maybe used to support a patient's arm (not shown) in tension as well.

The limb-support unit 14 includes a support platform 18, also calledplatform 18, and a two-axis limb holder 22, also called a two-axis legholder 22, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. The support platform 18 is coupled tothe foot end 16 of the surgical table 12 in a fixed position as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The limb-support unit 14 may also include a one-axis legholder that is coupled to the support platform 18 in a fixed positionwhen supporting one of the patient's legs. When the one-axis leg holderis not supporting one of the patient's legs, the one-axis leg holder maybe repositioned relative to the support platform 18. The two-axis legholder 22 is coupled to the support platform 18 as shown in FIGS. 1 and2. Portions of the two-axis leg holder 22 move relative to the supportplatform 18 as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The two-axis leg holder 22 includes a joint mount 24, a multi-axis joint26, and a spar 28 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The joint mount 24 iscoupled to the support platform 18 in a fixed position while thelimb-support unit 14 supports portions of the patient. When thelimb-support unit 14 is not supporting portions of the patient, thejoint mount 24 may be decoupled from the support platform 18 andrepositioned on the support platform 18. The multi-axis joint 26 isarranged to interconnect the spar 28 and the joint mount 24 to cause thespar 28 to move relative to the joint mount 24 as suggested in FIG. 4.The spar 28 is coupled to the multi-axis joint 26 and arranged to extendaway from the multi-axis joint 26 to support the patient's leg intraction during surgery.

The multi-axis joint 26 includes a joint housing 30, a support platform32, a vertical-position lock 34, and a horizontal-position lock 36 asshown in FIGS. 4-12. The horizontal-position lock 36 lies between andinterconnects the joint mount 24 and the support platform 32. The jointhousing 30 is coupled to the support platform 32 to move with thesupport platform 32. The vertical-position lock 34 interconnectsportions of the joint housing 30 and the spar 28. Together, thevertical-position lock 34 and the horizontal-position lock 36 cooperateto control movement of the spar 28 relative to the joint mount 24 assuggested in FIGS. 1-3.

The horizontal-position lock 36 is movable between a blocking positionshown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and an unblocking position shown in FIGS. 7 and8. The horizontal-position lock 36, when in the blocking position,blocks movement of the spar 28, the vertical-position lock 34, the jointhousing 30, and the support platform 32 relative to the joint mount 24.When the horizontal-position lock 36 is in the unblocking position, thespar 28, the vertical-position lock 34, the joint housing 30, and thesupport platform 32 are freed to rotate together as a unit about avertical axis 38 relative to the joint mount 24.

The vertical-position lock 34 is movable between a locked position shownin FIGS. 9 and 10 and an unlocked position shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.When the vertical-position lock 34 is in the locked position, thevertical-position lock 34 blocks movement of the spar 28 relative toportions of the joint housing 30, the horizontal-position lock 36, andthe support platform 32. When the vertical-position lock 34 is in theunlocked position, the vertical-position lock 34 allows the spar 28 tomove about a horizontal axis 40. The vertical-position lock 34 may movebetween the locked and the unlocked positions when thehorizontal-position lock 36 is in either the blocking or the unblockingpositions. The horizontal-position lock 36 may move between the blockingand the unblocking position when the vertical-position lock 34 is ineither the locked or the unlocked position.

The horizontal-position lock 36 includes a stationary disk 42, a set 44of movable pins, and a movable disk 46 as shown in FIG. 4. As anexample, the set 44 of movable pins includes twenty pins spaced-apartradially from one another an equal amount. Stationary disk 42 is coupledto the support platform 32 in a fixed position relative to the supportplatform 32. The set 44 of movable pins are trapped between thestationary disk 42 and the support platform 32 and spring biased toextend away from the support platform 32. The set 44 of pins areconfigured to move through an associated set 47 of holes formed in thestationary disk between a retracted position and an extended position.The set 47 of holes includes twenty holes aligned with the set 44 oftwenty pins. The movable disk 46 is coupled to the joint mount 24 tomove relative to the joint mount 24, the stationary disk 42, and the set44 of pins.

When the horizontal-position lock 36 is in the blocking position, themovable disk 46 lies in confronting relation with the stationary disk 42and four pins of the set 44 of pins extend through four holes of the set47 of holes in the stationary disk 42 and extend into four holes formedin the movable disk 46. The movable disk 46 is formed to include a set48 of sixteen holes therein. The sixteen holes are spaced-apart radiallyfrom one another an equal amount. When the horizontal-position lock isin the unblocking position, the movable disk 46 is spaced apart from thestationary disk 42 a distance sufficient to cause the four pins to bewithdrawn from the four holes formed in the movable disk 46 allowing thestationary disk 42 to rotate about the vertical axis 38 with the supportplatform 32 relative to the movable disk 46.

Because the stationary disk 42 includes twenty holes, there are twentypins, and the movable disk 46 includes sixteen holes, only four holes inthe stationary disk 42, four pins, and four holes in the movable disk 46align every about 4.5 degrees. As a result, the horizontal-position lockcan be adjusted in about 4.5 degree increments. However, the numberholes in the stationary disk 42, the number of pin in set 44, and thenumber of holes in movable disk 46 may be changed to suit the incrementdesired.

The vertical-position lock 34, also called a hirth joint or hirthcoupling, includes a stationary plate 50 and a movable plate 52 as shownin FIG. 4. The stationary plate 50 is coupled to a second shell support116 included in joint housing 30 to move with the second shell support116. The movable plate 52 is coupled to a housing shell 112 included inthe joint housing 30 to move back and forth with the housing shell 112along the horizontal axis 40 relative to the stationary plate 50. Whenthe vertical-position lock 34 is in the locked position, the movableplate 52 lies in confronting engaging relation with stationary plate 50as shown in FIG. 10. When the vertical-position lock 34 is in theunlocked position, the movable plate 52 is spaced apart from thestationary plate 50 allowing the movable plate 52 to rotate up and downabout horizontal axis 40 relative to shell supports 114, 116 andstationary plate 50.

As an example, the stationary plate 50 includes a disk and a pluralityof radially-extending inwardly-projecting teeth appended to the disk.The plurality of radially-extending inwardly-projecting teeth extendtowards the movable plate 52. The movable plate 52 includes a disk and aplurality of radially-extending outwardly-projecting teeth appended tothe disk. The radially-extending outwardly-projecting teeth extendtoward the stationary plate 50. The teeth appended to both disk arenumbered so as to compliment one another and are configured to mate withone another when the vertical-position lock 34 is in the lockedposition. The vertical-position lock 34 allows for adjustments inposition of the spar 28 in about 4 degree increments. However, thedesign of the stationary plate 40 and the movable plate 52 may be variedto achieve the increment desired.

Each of the vertical-position lock 34 and the horizontal-position lock36 are movable independently of one another as suggested in FIGS. 1 and2. Vertical-position lock 34 is moved by a vertical-lock actuator 54included in the two-axis leg holder 22 as shown in FIGS. 9-12. Thehorizontal-position lock 36 is moved by the horizontal-lock actuator 56included in the two-axis leg holder 22 as shown in FIGS. 5-8. Thevertical-lock actuator 54 is coupled to the spar 28 and to thevertical-position lock 34 and is movable to cause the vertical-positionlock 34 to move between the locked and unlocked positions. Thehorizontal-lock actuator 56 is coupled to the spar 28 and to thehorizontal-position lock 36 and is movable to cause thehorizontal-position lock 36 to move between the blocking and theunblocking positions.

The horizontal-lock actuator 56 includes a trigger 58, a first triggerlinkage 60, a second trigger linkage 62, a connecting linkage 64, alever 66, and a drive linkage 68 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5-8. Thetrigger 58 is coupled to a spar handle 70 included in the spar 28 tomove relative to the spar handle 70 in response to application of anactuation force F to the trigger 58. The first trigger linkage 60interconnects the trigger 58 and the second trigger linkage 62 as shownin FIGS. 5 and 7. The second trigger linkage 62 interconnects the firsttrigger linkage 60 and the connecting linkage 64 which extends along abeam 72 included in the spar 28. The connecting linkage 64 is coupled tothe lever 66 to cause the lever to pivot about a lever axis 74 as shownin FIGS. 6 and 8. The lever is configured to engage and move the drivelinkage 68 which is coupled to the movable disk 46 included in thevertical-position lock 34.

In an example of use, a caregiver applies the actuation force F to thetrigger 58 causing the trigger 58 to pivot in a counter-clockwisedirection 76 about a first trigger axis 78 as suggested in FIG. 5 andshown in FIG. 7. Movement of the trigger 58 causes the first triggerlinkage 60 to move toward the beam 72 which causes the second triggerlinkage 62 to rotate about a second trigger axis 80 in thecounter-clockwise direction 76. Movement of the second trigger linkage62 causes the connecting linkage 64 to be driven toward the multi-axisjoint 26 as suggested in FIGS. 5 and 6 and shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.Movement of the connecting linkage 64 causes the lever 66 to be rotatedabout the lever axis 74 in a counter-clockwise direction 82. Rotation ofthe lever 66 engages and moves the drive linkage 68 in a downwarddirection 84 as suggested in FIG. 6 and shown in FIG. 8. The movabledisk 46 is coupled to the drive linkage 68 to move therewith and movesdownwardly out of engagement with the pins included in the set 44 ofpins. As a result, the horizontal-position lock 36 is moved to theunlocked position freeing the vertical-position lock 34, portions of thejoint housing 30, and the spar 28 to move about the vertical axis 38relative to the joint mount 24.

The horizontal-lock actuator 56 further includes a horizontal-lock biasspring 86 which provides a bias force to urge the horizontal-positionlock 36 to return to the blocking position when the actuation force F isremoved. The horizontal-lock bias spring 86 is positioned to lie betweenthe joint mount 24 and the drive linkage 68 as shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and8.

The vertical-lock actuator 54 includes a grip 88, a rotation collar 90,a rotation linkage 92, a cam 94, a cam follower 96, and a bias mechanism98 as shown in FIG. 4 and suggested in FIGS. 9-12. The grip 88 iscoupled to the spar handle 70 to extend perpendicularly away from thespar handle 70 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. The rotation collar 90 iscoupled to the grip 88 to move therewith as the grip 88 is rotated abouta rotation axis 100 in a counter-clockwise direction 110 as suggested inFIG. 9 and shown in FIG. 11. The rotation axis 100 is defined by therotation linkage 92. The rotation collar 90 is also coupled to the sparhandle 70 to rotate relative to the spar handle 70. The rotation linkage92 interconnects the rotation collar 90 and the cam 94 to cause movementof the rotation collar 90 to be translated to the cam 94. The rotationlinkage is arranged to extend between the multi-axis joint 26 and thespar handle 70. The rotation linkage 92 is formed to include a hollowpassageway therein and the connecting linkage 64 of the horizontal-lockactuator 56 is configured to extend there through for movementindependent of the rotation linkage 92. The cam follower 96 is coupledto the movable plate 52 and the housing shell 112 to cause the movableplate 52, the cam follower 96, and the housing shell 112 to move backand forth along the horizontal axis 40 in response to movement of thecam 94.

The bias mechanism 98 is positioned to lie between a portion of the camfollower 96 and a first shell support 114 included in joint housing 30to cause the cam follower 96 and the movable plate 52 to move away fromthe stationary plate 50 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. The bias mechanism98 provides another bias force to urge the vertical-position lock 34 tothe unlocked position when the rotation force R is removed from the grip88.

The spar 28 is capable of moving about the horizontal axis 40 through arange of motion of about 20 degrees down from a generally horizontalposition and about 55 degrees up from a generally horizontal position.The two-axis leg holder 22 is also configured to support a portion of a350 pound patient with an inseam of about 42 inches. As a result, thetwo-axis leg holder 22 can withstand a torque of about 250 foot poundswhen the spar 28 is generally horizontal.

The grip 88 of vertical-lock actuator 54 includes a rod 104, a gripshell 106, and a shell bias spring 108 as shown in FIG. 4. The rod 104is coupled to the rotation collar 90 to move therewith. The grip shell106 is coupled to the rod 104 to move back and forth relative to the rod104 between a first position and a second position. The shell biasspring 108 is coupled to the rod and the grip shell 106 to bias the gripshell 106 into the first position. When the grip shell 106 is in thefirst position, an upper tapered portion of the grip shell 106 isarranged to mate with an associated tapered portion formed in the beam72. The two tapered portions cooperate to maintain grip shell 106 in thefirst position. When the grip shell 106 is in the second position, thegrip shell 106 is spaced apart from the beam 72 such that the twotapered portions are no longer engaged with one another. As a result,grip 88 is freed to rotate about the rotation axis 100 when in thesecond position.

As shown in FIG. 4, the joint housing 30 includes a housing shell 112, afirst shell support 114, a second shell support 116, and a shell coupler118. The housing shell 112 is positioned to lie between and interconnectthe first and the second shell supports 114, 116. The housing shell 112is coupled to the support platform 32 to extend upwardly away from thesupport platform 32. The first and second shell supports 114, 116 arecoupled to the support platform 32 and configured to receive portions ofthe cam follower 96 therein and provide rotative bearing engagementbetween the cam follower 96 and the shell supports 114, 116. The shellcoupler 118 is coupled to both the shell supports 114, 116 and isconfigured to maintain the shell supports 114, 116 in spaced-apartrelation to one another trapping the housing shell 112 therebetween. Asan example, the shell coupler 118 is a nut and a bolt.

Another embodiment of a limb-support unit 214 includes the supportplatform 18 and a two-axis leg holder 222 as shown in FIG. 13. Thetwo-axis leg holder 222 includes the joint mount 24, a multi-axis joint226, and a spar 28 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. The multi-axis joint 226is arranged to interconnect the spar 28 and the joint mount 24 to causethe spar 28 to move relative to the joint mount 24 as suggested in FIG.4. The spar 28 is coupled to the multi-axis joint 226 and arranged toextend away from the multi-axis joint 226 to support the patient's legin traction during surgery.

The multi-axis joint 226 includes the joint housing 30, the supportplatform 32, a vertical-position lock 234, and the horizontal-positionlock 36 as shown in FIGS. 14-22. The horizontal-position lock 36 liesbetween and interconnects the joint mount 24 and the support platform32. The joint housing 30 is coupled to the support platform 32 to movewith the support platform 32. The vertical-position lock 234interconnects the joint housing 30 and the spar 28. Together, thevertical-position lock 234 and the horizontal-position lock 36 cooperateto control movement of the spar 28 relative to the joint mount 24 assuggested in FIG. 13.

The horizontal-position lock 36 is movable between a blocking positionshown in FIGS. 15 and 16 and an unblocking position shown in FIGS. 17and 18. The horizontal-position lock 36, when in the blocking position,blocks movement of the spar 28, the vertical-position lock 234, thejoint housing 30, and the support platform 32 relative to the jointmount 24. When the horizontal-position lock 36 is in the unblockingposition, the spar 28, the vertical-position lock 234, the joint housing30, and the support platform are freed to rotate together as a unitabout the vertical axis 38 relative to the joint mount 24.

The vertical-position lock 234 is movable between a locked positionshown in FIGS. 19 and 20 and an unlocked position shown in FIGS. 21 and22. When the vertical-position lock 234 is in the locked position, thevertical-position lock 234 blocks movement of the spar 28 relative tothe joint housing 30, the horizontal-position lock 36, and the supportplatform 32. When the vertical-position lock 234 is in the unlockedposition, the vertical-position lock 234 allows the spar 28 to moveabout the horizontal axis 40. The vertical-position lock 234 may movebetween the locked and the unlocked positions when thehorizontal-position lock 36 is in either the blocking or the unblockingpositions. The horizontal-position lock 36 may move between the blockingand the unblocking position when the vertical-position lock 234 is ineither the locked or the unlocked position.

The vertical-position lock 234 includes a vertical stationary disk 242,a set 244 of movable pins, and a vertical movable disk 246 as shown inFIG. 14. As an example, the set 244 of movable pins includes twenty pinsspaced-apart radially from one another an equal amount. Verticalstationary disk 242 is coupled to the joint housing 30 in a fixedposition relative to the joint housing 30. The set 244 of movable pinsare trapped between the vertical stationary disk 242 and the jointhousing 30. The set 244 of pins are configured to move through anassociated set 247 of holes formed in the vertical stationary disk 242between a retracted position and an extended position. The set 247 ofholes includes twenty holes aligned with the set 244 of twenty pins. Thevertical movable disk 246 is coupled to the joint housing 30 to moverelative to the joint housing 30, the vertical stationary disk 242, andthe set 244 of pins.

When the vertical-position lock 234 is in the locked position, thevertical movable disk 246 lies in confronting relation with the verticalstationary disk 242 and four pins of the set 244 of pins extend throughfour holes of the set of holes in the vertical stationary disk 242 andextend into four holes formed in the vertical movable disk 246. Thevertical movable disk 246 is formed to include a set 248 of holestherein. As an example, the set 248 of holes includes sixteen holesspaced-apart radially from one another an equal amount. When thevertical-position lock 234 is in the unlocked position, the verticalmovable disk 246 is spaced apart from the vertical stationary disk 242to cause the four pins to be withdrawn from the four holes formed in thevertical movable disk 246 allowing the vertical stationary disk 242 torotate about the horizontal axis 40 with the spar 28.

Because the vertical stationary disk 242 includes twenty holes, thereare twenty pins, and the vertical movable disk 246 includes sixteenholes, only four holes in the vertical stationary disk 242, four pins,and four holes in the vertical movable disk 246 align every 4.5 degrees.As a result, the vertical-position lock 234 can be adjusted in 4.5degree increments. However, the number holes in the vertical stationarydisk 242, the number of pins in the set 244, and the number of holes inthe vertical movable disk 246 may be changed to suit the incrementdesired.

Each of the vertical-position lock 234 and the horizontal-position lock36 are movable independently of one another. The vertical-position lock234 is moved by a vertical-lock actuator 254 included in two-axis legholder 222 as shown in FIGS. 19-22. The vertical-lock actuator 254 iscoupled to the spar 28 and to the vertical-position lock 234 and ismovable to cause the vertical-position lock 234 to move between thelocked and unlocked positions.

The vertical-lock actuator 254 includes a rotation collar 290, arotation linkage 292, a cam 294, and a cam follower 296 as shown in FIG.14 and suggested in FIGS. 19-22. The rotation collar 290 is coupled tothe spar handle 70 to move therewith as the spar handle 70 is rotatedabout the rotation axis 100 in a clockwise direction 2110 as suggestedin FIG. 19 and shown in FIG. 21. The rotation axis 100 is defined by therotation linkage 292. The rotation linkage 292 interconnects therotation collar 290 and the cam 294 to cause movement of the rotationcollar 290 to be translated to the cam 294. The rotation linkage 292 isarranged to extend between the multi-axis joint 226 and the spar handle270. The rotation linkage 292 is formed to include a hollow passagewaytherein and the connecting linkage 64 of the horizontal-lock actuator 56is configured to extend there through for movement independent of therotation linkage 292. The cam follower 296 is coupled to the verticalmovable disk 246 to cause the vertical movable disk 246 and the camfollower 296 to move back and forth along the horizontal axis 40 inresponse to movement of the cam 294. Bias may be provided to thevertical-lock actuator 254 by gravity or inclusion of a bias mechanism.Bias may cause the cam follower 296 and the vertical movable disk 246 tomove away from the vertical stationary disk 242 as shown in FIGS. 19 and21.

The vertical-lock actuator 254 may further include a vertical-lock biasspring which provides another bias force to urge the vertical-positionlock 234 to return to the locked position when the rotation force R isremoved from the spar handle 70. The vertical-lock bias spring may bepositioned to lie between the joint housing 30 and the cam follower tobias the vertical-position lock 234 to the locked position.

Although certain illustrative embodiments have been described in detailabove, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit ofthis disclosure as described and as defined in the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A limb holder comprising a joint mountadapted to couple to a platform in a fixed position, a spar extending inan outward direction away from the joint mount and adapted to couple toa patient's foot and retain the patient's foot in tension duringmovement of the spar relative to the joint mount, and a multi-axis jointincluding a vertical-position lock and a horizontal-position lock, thehorizontal-position lock interconnects the spar and thevertical-position lock and is movable between a blocking position inwhich movement of the spar and the vertical-position lock is blocked andan unblocking position in which the spar and the vertical-position lockare freed to move together relative to the joint mount, and thevertical-position lock interconnects the spar and thehorizontal-position lock and is movable between a locked position inwhich the spar is blocked from moving relative to thehorizontal-position lock and the joint mount and an unlocked position inwhich the spar is freed to move relative to the horizontal-position lockand the joint mount, wherein the multi-axis joint further includes asupport platform and the horizontal-position lock lies between andinterconnects the joint mount and the support platform to cause thesupport platform to move relative to the joint mount, wherein themulti-axis joint further includes a joint housing coupled to the supportplatform to move therewith and the vertical-position lock interconnectsportions of the joint housing and the spar to cause portions of thejoint housing and the spar to move relative to the support platform, andwherein the horizontal-position lock includes a stationary disk coupledto the support platform in a fixed position relative to the supportplatform, a set of movable pins coupled to the support platform andbiased to extend away from the support platform toward the joint mount,and a movable disk coupled to the joint mount to move relative to thejoint mount, the stationary disk, and the set of movable pins when thehorizontal-position lock is in the unblocking position.
 2. The limbholder of claim 1, wherein the stationary disk is formed to include aset of stationary-disk holes having a first quantity, the movable diskis formed to include a set of movable-disk holes having a secondquantity, the set of movable pins has as third quantity, and at leasttwo pins included in the set of movable pins extends through twostationary-disk holes and two movable-disk holes when thehorizontal-position lock is in the blocking position.
 3. The limb holderof claim 2, wherein the movable disk is spaced apart from the stationarydisk to cause the set of movable pins to be disengaged from the movabledisk so that none of the set of movable pins extend through any of themovable-disk holes when the horizontal-position lock is in theunblocking position.
 4. The limb holder of claim 2, wherein the firstquantity is equal to the second quantity and the third quantity is lessthan the first quantity.
 5. The limb holder of claim 4, wherein thehorizontal-position lock is movable in about 4.5 degree increments. 6.The limb holder of claim 4, wherein each movable pin included in the setof movable pins is spaced-apart circumferentially an equal distance fromeach neighboring movable pin.
 7. The limb holder of claim 4, whereineach stationary-disk hole is spaced-apart circumferentially an equaldistance from each neighboring stationary-disk hole.
 8. The limb holderof claim 4, wherein each movable-disk hole is spaced-apartcircumferentially an equal amount from each neighboring movable-diskhole.
 9. A limb holder comprising a joint mount adapted to couple to aplatform in a fixed position, a spar extending in an outward directionaway from the joint mount and adapted to couple to a patient's foot andretain the patient's foot in tension during movement of the sparrelative to the joint mount, a multi-axis joint including avertical-position lock and a horizontal-position lock, thehorizontal-position lock interconnects the spar and thevertical-position lock and is movable between a blocking position inwhich movement of the spar and the vertical-position lock is blocked andan unblocking position in which the spar and the vertical-position lockare freed to move together relative to the joint mount, and thevertical-position lock interconnects the spar and thehorizontal-position lock and is movable between a locked position inwhich the spar is blocked from moving relative to thehorizontal-position lock and the joint mount and an unlocked position inwhich the spar is freed to move relative to the horizontal-position lockand the joint mount, and at least one actuator coupled to one of thehorizontal-position lock to cause the horizontal-position lock to movebetween the blocking and unblocking positions and the vertical-positionlock to cause the vertical-position lock to move between the locked andthe unlocked position, wherein the vertical-position lock is movablerelative to and independent of the horizontal-position lock, wherein thespar includes a first end and a second end spaced apart from the firstend, the vertical-position lock and the horizontal-position lock arepositioned adjacent the first end of the spar, and the at least oneactuator is positioned adjacent the second end of the spar, and whereinthe multi-axis joint further includes a support platform and a jointhousing, the horizontal-position lock lies between and interconnects thejoint mount and the support platform to cause the support platform tomove relative to the joint mount, the joint housing is coupled to thesupport platform to move therewith, the vertical-position lockinterconnects portions of the joint housing and the spar to causeportions of the joint housing and the spar to move relative to thesupport platform, and the joint housing includes a first shell supportcoupled to the support platform to move therewith, a second shellsupport coupled to the support platform in spaced-apart relation to movetherewith, and a housing shell coupled to the spar to move therewith andto the first and second shell supports to move relative to the first andsecond shell supports.
 10. The limb holder of claim 9, wherein thevertical-position lock includes a stationary plate coupled to the secondshell support to move therewith and a movable plate coupled to thehousing shell to move therewith and relative to the stationary plate.11. The limb holder of claim 10, wherein the movable plate engages thestationary plate when the vertical-position lock is in the lockedposition.
 12. A limb holder comprising a joint mount adapted to coupleto a platform in a fixed position, a spar extending in an outwarddirection away from the joint mount and adapted to couple to a patient'sfoot and retain the patient's foot in tension during movement of thespar relative to the joint mount, and a multi-axis joint including avertical-position lock and a horizontal-position lock, thehorizontal-position lock interconnects the spar and thevertical-position lock and is movable between a blocking position inwhich movement of the spar and the vertical-position lock is blocked andan unblocking position in which the spar and the vertical-position lockare freed to move together relative to the joint mount, and thevertical-position lock interconnects the spar and thehorizontal-position lock and is movable between a locked position inwhich the spar is blocked from moving relative to thehorizontal-position lock and the joint mount and an unlocked position inwhich the spar is freed to move relative to the horizontal-position lockand the joint mount, wherein the multi-axis joint further includes asupport platform and a joint housing, the horizontal-position lock liesbetween and interconnects the joint mount and the support platform tocause the support platform to move relative to the joint mount, thejoint housing is coupled to the support platform to move therewith, thevertical-position lock interconnects portions of the joint housing andthe spar to cause portions of the joint housing and the spar to moverelative to the support platform, and the joint housing includes a firstshell support coupled to the support platform to move therewith, asecond shell support coupled to the support platform in spaced-apartrelation to move therewith, and a housing shell coupled to the spar tomove therewith and to the first and second shell supports to moverelative to the first and second shell supports, wherein thevertical-position lock includes a stationary plate coupled to the secondshell support to move therewith and a movable plate coupled to thehousing shell to move therewith and relative to the stationary plate,wherein the movable plate engages the stationary plate when thevertical-position lock is in the locked position, and wherein themovable plate is spaced apart from and disengaging the stationary platewhen the vertical-position lock is in the unlocked position.
 13. Thelimb holder of claim 12, wherein the stationary plate includes a diskand a plurality of radially-extending teeth appended to the disk andarranged to extend toward the movable plate, the plurality ofradially-extending teeth are spaced-apart equally from one another. 14.The limb holder of claim 13, wherein the movable plate includes a diskand a plurality of radially-extending teeth appended to the disk andarranged to extend toward the stationary plate, the plurality ofradially-extending teeth are spaced-apart equally from one another. 15.The limb holder of claim 14, the vertical-position lock is movable inabout 4 degree increments.
 16. A limb holder comprising a joint mountadapted to couple to a platform in a fixed position, a spar extending inan outward direction away from the joint mount and adapted to couple toa patient's foot and retain the patient's foot in tension duringmovement of the spar relative to the joint mount, and a multi-axis jointincluding a vertical-position lock and a horizontal-position lock, thehorizontal-position lock interconnects the spar and thevertical-position lock and is movable between a blocking position inwhich movement of the spar and the vertical-position lock is blocked andan unblocking position in which the spar and the vertical-position lockare freed to move together relative to the joint mount, and thevertical-position lock interconnects the spar and thehorizontal-position lock and is movable between a locked position inwhich the spar is blocked from moving relative to thehorizontal-position lock and the joint mount and an unlocked position inwhich the spar is freed to move relative to the horizontal-position lockand the joint mount, wherein the multi-axis joint further includes asupport platform and a joint housing, the horizontal-position lock liesbetween and interconnects the joint mount and the support platform tocause the support platform to move relative to the joint mount, thejoint housing is coupled to the support platform to move therewith, thevertical-position lock interconnects portions of the joint housing andthe spar to cause portions of the joint housing and the spar to moverelative to the support platform, and the joint housing includes a firstshell support coupled to the support platform to move therewith, asecond shell support coupled to the support platform in spaced-apartrelation to move therewith, and a housing shell coupled to the spar tomove therewith and to the first and second shell supports to moverelative to the first and second shell supports, wherein thevertical-position lock includes a stationary plate coupled to the secondshell support to move therewith and a movable plate coupled to thehousing shell to move therewith and relative to the stationary plate,wherein the movable plate engages the stationary plate when thevertical-position lock is in the locked position, wherein the movableplate is spaced apart from and disengaging the stationary late when thevertical-position lock is in the unlocked position, and wherein the atleast one actuator is a vertical-lock actuator coupled to thevertical-position lock to cause the vertical-position lock to movebetween the locked and the unlocked position.
 17. The limb holder ofclaim 16, wherein the vertical-lock actuator includes a grip coupled tothe spar to extend perpendicularly away from the spar and move relativeto the spar in response to application of a rotation force to the grip,a rotation collar coupled to the grip to move therewith about a rotationaxis, a cam coupled to the rotation collar to move therewith, and a camfollower coupled to the vertical-position to lock to cause thevertical-position lock to move between the locked and the unlockedposition in response to rotation of the grip about the rotation axis.18. The limb holder of claim 17, wherein the vertical-lock actuatorfurther includes a rotation linkage arranged to interconnect therotation collar and the cam to cause movement of the rotation collar tobe translated to the cam.
 19. The limb holder of claim 18, furthercomprising a horizontal-lock actuator coupled to the horizontal-positionlock to cause the horizontal-position lock to move between the blockingand unblocking positions and the horizontal-lock actuator includes atrigger coupled to the spar to move relative to the spar in response toapplication of an actuation force to the trigger, a linkage coupled tothe trigger to move therewith, a lever coupled to the linkage to movetherewith about a pivot axis, and a drive linkage coupled to a movabledisk included in the horizontal-position lock.
 20. The limb holder ofclaim 19, wherein the rotation linkage is formed to include a hollowpassageway therein and a portion of the linkage is arranged to extendthrough the hollow passageway to cause movement of the linkage to beindependent of movement of the rotation linkage.
 21. The limb holder ofclaim 17, wherein the multi-axis joint includes a support platform and ajoint housing, the horizontal-position lock lies between andinterconnects the joint mount and the support platform to cause thesupport platform to move relative to the joint mount, the joint housingis coupled to the support platform to move therewith, thevertical-position lock interconnects portions of the joint housing andthe spar to cause portions of the joint housing and the spar to moverelative to the support platform, the joint housing includes a firstshell support coupled to the support platform to move therewith, asecond shell support coupled to the support platform in spaced-apartrelation to move therewith, and a housing shell coupled to the spar tomove therewith and to the first and second shell supports to moverelative to the first and second shell supports, the vertical-positionlock includes a stationary plate coupled to the second shell support tomove therewith and a movable plate coupled to the housing shell and thecam follower to move therewith and relative to the stationary plate, andmovement of the grip causes the cam to move the cam follower causing thecam follower, the housing shell, and the movable plate of thevertical-position lock to move back and forth along a horizontal axis.22. The limb holder of claim 21, wherein the spar is freed to move aboutthe horizontal axis when the vertical-position lock is in the unlockedposition.
 23. The limb holder of claim 21, wherein the vertical-lockactuator further includes a bias mechanism positioned to lie between aportion of the cam follower and the first shell support and configuredto bias the cam follower and the movable plate of the vertical-positionlock away from the stationary plate of the vertical-position lock.
 24. Alimb holder comprising a joint mount adapted to couple to a platform ina fixed position, a spar extending in an outward direction away from thejoint mount and adapted to couple to a patient's foot and retain thepatient's foot in tension during movement of the spar relative to thejoint mount, and a multi-axis joint including a vertical-position lockand a horizontal-position lock, the horizontal-position lockinterconnects the spar and the vertical-position lock and is movablebetween a blocking position in which movement of the spar and thevertical-position lock is blocked and an unblocking position in whichthe spar and the vertical-position lock are freed to move togetherrelative to the joint mount, and the vertical-position lockinterconnects the spar and the horizontal-position lock and is movablebetween a locked position in which the spar is blocked from movingrelative to the horizontal-position lock and the joint mount and anunlocked position in which the spar is freed to move relative to thehorizontal-position lock and the joint mount, wherein thevertical-position lock is movable relative to and independent of thehorizontal-position lock and wherein the multi-axis joint furtherincludes a support platform and a joint housing, the horizontal-positionlock lies between and interconnects the joint mount and the supportplatform to cause the support platform to move relative to the jointmount, the joint housing is coupled to the support platform to movetherewith, and the vertical-position lock interconnects portions of thejoint housing and the spar to cause portions of the joint housing andthe spar to move relative to the support platform.
 25. The limb holderof claim 24, wherein the vertical-position lock includes a verticalstationary disk coupled to the joint housing in a fixed positionrelative to the joint housing, a vertical movable disk coupled to thejoint housing to move relative to the joint housing, and a set ofmovable pins trapped between the vertical stationary disk and thevertical movable disk and biased to extend away from the verticalstationary disk toward the vertical movable disk and engage the verticalmovable disk when the vertical-position lock is in the locked position.26. The limb holder of claim 25, wherein the vertical stationary disk isformed to include a set of stationary-disk holes having a firstquantity, the vertical movable disk is formed to include a set ofmovable-disk holes having a second quantity, the set of movable pins hasa third quantity, and at least two pins included in the set of movablepins extends through two stationary-disk holes and two movable-diskholes when the vertical-position lock is in the locked position.
 27. Thelimb holder of claim 26, wherein the vertical movable disk is spacedapart from the vertical stationary disk to cause the set of movable pinsto be disengaged from the vertical movable disk so that none of the setof movable pins extend through any of the movable-disk holes when thevertical-position lock is in the unlocked position.
 28. The limb holderof claim 27, wherein the first quantity is equal to the second quantityand the third quantity is less than the first quantity.
 29. The limbholder of claim 28, wherein the vertical-position lock is movable inabout 4.5 degree increments.
 30. The limb holder of claim 28, whereineach movable pin included in the set of movable pins is spaced-apartcircumferentially an equal distance from each neighboring movable pin.31. The limb holder of claim 28, wherein each stationary-disk hole isspaced-apart circumferentially an equal distance from each neighboringstationary-disk hole.
 32. The limb holder of claim 28, wherein eachmovable-disk hole is spaced-apart circumferentially an equal distancefrom each neighboring movable-disk hole.